I have sworn by myself (see 22.5) has essentially the same meaning as “I have sworn by my great name.” See 44.26.

Says the LORD: See 1.8.

Bozrah was the chief city of Edom, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of the Dead Sea. This is not to be confused with the Bozrah mentioned in 48.24. Most translators will have “city of Bozrah.”

A horror is first used in 2.15, where it is translated “waste” by Revised Standard Version. Otherwise it means “will be something that causes horror.”

A taunt is first used in 6.10, where Revised Standard Version renders “object of scorn.” A good translation here is “it will become something for people to make fun of.”

A waste is first used in 36.30, where it is rendered “heat” by Revised Standard Version. The word occurs elsewhere in 50.38, where it is translated “drought.” Good News Translation has “a desert.”

A curse is first used in 24.9. Elsewhere it appears in 25.18; 26.6; 29.22; 42.18; 44.8, 12, 22.

Wastes translates the noun rendered “waste” in 7.34. “In ruins” (so Good News Translation) is the most common translation.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .